[Novalug] Data Backup

[Igor Birman]

I frequently back up Windows computers, some with corrupt files, using Knoppix to a Samba share.  I have tried a few different approaches, but the ones I use now are:

* Drag and drop..

* rsync -av /dev/hda1 /mnt/sambashare

and

* cp --preserve=timestamps -rv /dev/hda1 /mnt/sambashare

All have some issues:

* Drag and Drop does not preserve timestamps.

* If the cp command fails for some reason half way through, I would have to start from scratch.

* rsync is great if I need to start over, but if it hits a file it can't copy - like one over 2GB, it stops dead in its tracks.

What I need is an automated, fool-proof, way to copy all the good files off a windows partition, that won't stop until it has done as much as possible, that will copy every file it can, that can be re-started at any time, that that will give me a simple report of any problems it had along the way.  

I use Unstoppable Copier for Windows to do this: http://www.roadkil.net/program.php?ProgramID=29 - it is good except the log has every file, good or bad, and there is no easy way to get a list of files that were not copied.

Tools like Ghost or Gparted that copy entire partitions are no good - if they hit any bad files they stop dead in their tracks - they will only copy perfect, pristine partitions..

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Igor
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